If I had to pick one restaurant during my latest trip to San Francisco and attempt to salvage my credibility as a foodie, San Tung would have to be the one. Known for their famous dry, fried chicken wings, this is an absolute “must have” if not, the only dish to order.

Granted, I've only been to this place one other time, which was during my high school years, I was somewhat hesitant about their quality and ownership status. However, unlike many notorious places in the San Gabriel Valley, you can expect for most restaurants in the Bay Area to be thriving and under the same ownership.

So, on a cloudy and cool afternoon, we trekked over to this restaurant that appeared to be no different than other restaurants that surrounded it. Although at 3pm this place was packed, we were lucky enough to snag the last open table in the back.

What we ordered:

Dry Fried Chicken Wings: There are two variations to choose from (wet and dry) and I hesitated for a moment as to which one it was I had in the past. The waitress immediately said, “you want the dry fried version."

The wings were served fresh and came to us smoking for both orders. Yes, we did order a second plate after eating everything else. The verdict: These wings blew Izakaya Bincho's and any wings I've ever had out of the water. Don't be surprised if you see patrons with a bowl of rice and just the chicken. It's that good.

Dry fried chicken wings congealed in some sort of honey glazing, garlic, onion, peppers, chilies, and potentially every other spice in the world. These wings are anything, but dry.

Jampong: Seafood mixed with hand pulled noodles in a slightly spicy broth. However, when compared to the other dishes, it is simply not comparable.

Others have raved about their dumplings, but they seem like nothing special compared to the ones you can get in Socal. Until next time, my decision has been made, these are the best wings you'll find in California.

i've had this same exact meal when i was down in SF working nearly 2 years ago. this place is great and you've reminded me that I need to visit the bay area very soon. i believe there is a wonton place down the street from there that wasn't bad.

i remember two places my friend showed me. while they are not as good as Hong Kong's, they are decent. Try Hon's Wonton House and Just Wonton. At Just Wonton, they have this fried tofu dish which i like. At Hon's, I love that you can buy fresh noodles by the pound for home-consumption.